If its any consolation the same arguments are happening in the civilian world.
Schreiner airways used to spend about 4 million guilders (£500,000???) carrying out a 12 week G check on a Dauphin including a back to bare metal respray.
End result a nearly new aircraft and very good in service reliability.
Helikopter service used to do a similar job on their S61's. The result was a 30 year old aircraft that you could eat your dinner off.
Other operators did and do take a minimalist approach to heavy maintenance.
End result crap in service reliabilty.
The engineers hate this low cost maintenance because it just dumps problems on to the line operation.
In the case of the RAF Seakings the problem is not the age of the aircraft but the spares support and the quality of heavy maintenance.
Without having seen the program, I am surprised that a senior RAF officer is blaming the age of the aircraft. Maybe he just wants some new toys to play with!!!!!!!!!!!!!!